Bruce Hamilton admits he wasn91裸聊视频檛 expecting to cross paths with the Portland Winterhawks again this season.
But after an opening round upset of the Prince George Cougars in six games, the 91裸聊视频楬awks will provide the opposition for Hamilton91裸聊视频檚 in the WHL91裸聊视频檚 Western Conference semifinal.
The best-of-seven series opens Friday night at Prospera Place.
91裸聊视频淭hey obviously played a great series, they beat a pretty good team, the top team in our division all year long, so it is a bit of a surprise,91裸聊视频� the Rockets91裸聊视频� GM said of the
91裸聊视频淪aying that, the (Winterhawks) have been real good since Christmas, they91裸聊视频檙e a fast team and it91裸聊视频檒l be a good challenge for our players.91裸聊视频�
Seeing Portland in the spring is old hat to the Rockets franchise, which has met the Winterhawks in the playoffs five times in the last seven seasons.
The last meeting, in 2015, saw the Rockets prevail in six games over Portland, en route to a WHL championship and trip to the Memorial Cup in Quebec City.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e looking forward to it,91裸聊视频� Hamilton said of renewing the rivalry. 91裸聊视频淭hey have a solid fan base and it91裸聊视频檚 good atmosphere playing down there.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 just happy we91裸聊视频檙e starting at home in front of our fans,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淥ur players are going to be excited to play them.91裸聊视频�
After two seasons coaching in the NHL, Mike Johnston returned this season as head coach and GM of the Hawks, a club he led to three WHL finals in a four-year span between 2011 and 2014.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 a very good coach with a lot of experience and he91裸聊视频檒l have them well prepared,91裸聊视频� Hamilton said of Johnston.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檒l be a good challenge for our young coaches to match up against him and get our players ready.91裸聊视频�
The Rockets advanced to the second round after disposing of the Kamloops Blazers in six games.
Reid Gardiner scored a hat-trick in the series clincher, a 4-2 win Sunday at the Sandman Centre.
Kelowna Rockets vs. Portland Winterhawks
Friday, April 7 91裸聊视频擯ortland @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, April 891裸聊视频擯ortland @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday, April 1191裸聊视频擪elowna @ Portland 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 1291裸聊视频擪elowna @ Portland 7:00 p.m.
Friday, April 1491裸聊视频擯ortland @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m. *
Sunday, April 1691裸聊视频擪elowna @ Portland 7:00 p.m. *
Tuesday, April 1891裸聊视频擯ortland @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m. *
* If necessary
have a renewed playoff battle with the Portland Winterhawks for round 2! Read about it here: 馃殌馃悏
91裸聊视频� Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets)
Herringer goalie of month91裸聊视频�
Thanks to his stellar play in March, Rockets91裸聊视频� netminder Michael Herringer has been named the Vaughn WHL Goaltender of the Month.
Herringer, a 21-year-old product of Comox, chalked up a record of 10-3-0-0 during the month of March, with an outstanding 1.89 goals-against average, .934 save percentage, three shutouts and 337 saves.
The Rockets91裸聊视频� goaltender logged one shutout during regular-season action, making 21 saves on Friday March 17, in a 7-0 win versus Vancouver. He then posted two shutouts during Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 six-game triumph over the Kamloops Blazers to open the 2017 WHL Playoffs.
He made 15 saves on Friday, March 24, in a 4-0 win versus Kamloops before then registering another 24 saves on Wednesday, March 29, in a 1-0 win at Kamloops.
In 13 appearances during the month of March, Herringer surrendered two goals or fewer on eight occasions, earning first-star honours once and second-star recognition twice.
Herringer was recognized as WHL Goaltender of the Week twice during the month of March and three times over the course of the entire 2016-17 regular season.
In the playoffs, He is 4-2 with a 2.00 GAA, .928 save percentage and two shutouts through six appearances.
